One-third of women leave their jobs within 18 months of returning from parental leave — not all of them do so because they want to stay home, but because their workplace let them down when they needed support the most.

This week, I sit down with Beth Wanner, founder + CEO of Mother Cover, whose own jaw-dropping story of IVF,pregnancy discrimination, and being fired at eight months pregnant launched a movement to completely rethink parental leave.

Beth exposes the real costs of getting leave wrong (hello burnout, turnover, and lost clients), and shares the solution she built to help companies support parents without sacrificing performance.

This conversation will change the way you think about caregiving, work, and what’s actually possible when we design workplaces with humanity and strategy.

If you’ve ever taken leave, managed someone on leave, or wondered why it still feels so hard to be both a parent and a professional — this one is a must-listen.

**** LET'S CONNECT! ****

🌐 Mother Cover: https://www.mothercoveragency.com/

🔗Connect with Beth on Linkedin:

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethwanner/

📩 Read our Newsletter: https://www.theweeklyparent.com

📷 Follow Beth on Instagram:

 https://www.instagram.com/mothercoveragency/

📷 Follow Kiyah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkiyahduffey/

**** KEY TAKEAWAYS ****

• One third of women leave their roles within 18 months of returning from leave.
• Many women do not choose to stay at home; they leave due to negative experiences.
• Negative feelings about maternity leave can lead to job changes.
• Women often feel let down by their companies during critical life moments.
• Starting fresh at a new company can feel easier than addressing workplace issues.
• Support during maternity leave is crucial for employee retention.
• Companies need to create a positive experience for returning mothers.
• The assumption that women choose to leave is often incorrect.
• Retention strategies should focus on the experiences of returning employees.
• Understanding the challenges faced by women can improve workplace culture.

**** KEYWORDS ****

#maternity #maternityleave #womenscareers #workplace #workplaceexperience #employeeretention #retention #career #careers #worklifebalance #transition #family #startingafamily